Document-Based Decision Making and Design: An Analysis of Medicare Part D

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jul 2010

Document-Based Decision Making and Design: An Analysis of Medicare Part D

Eva R. Brumberger

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of the design of the Medicare handbook and website on individuals' ability to make effective decisions about prescription drug coverage. The article summarizes Medicare Part D, discusses the characteristics of potential enrollees, and provides an overview of document-based decision making. It uses a rhetorical framework to evaluate the Medicare documents as decision-making tools, arguing that design flaws hinder users'understanding, discourage them from taking appropriate action, and negatively shape perceptions of ethos. The article concludes by discussing implications for functional documents more generally, underscoring the importance of a design cycle that is both user-centered and performance-centered.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 2010-07-01
DOI: 10.2190/tw.40.3.d
Open Access: Closed
Topics: multimodality argument

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

Reed (2018)

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Gouge (2017)

Improving Patient Discharge Communication

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Cites in this index (3)

Brumberger (2007)

Making the Strange Familiar

Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Brumberger (2007)

Visual Communication in the Workplace: A Survey of Practice

Technical Communication Quarterly
O'Hara (2004)

"Curb Cuts" on the Information Highway: Older Adults and the Internet

Technical Communication Quarterly

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Hibbard J. H., Slovic P., Peters E., Finucane M. L., and Tusler M., Is the Informed-Choice Policy Approach Ap…

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